Apparatus for drilling and construction



June 11, 1968 L.. D. MENARD APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1965 m/uzwroe L OU/S .D, MFA/4RD June 11, 1968 D. MENARD I 3,387,670

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LOUIS 0, MENARD /N VENTOR HWMMMM A TTOR/VE'YS June 11, 1968 D. MENARD APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 12, 1965 LOULS D- MENAR D //VVE/V7'0R x/Mum A rromvEYs June 11, 1968 L. D. MENARD APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 LOU|S.D. MENARD' avvzwrm ATTORNEYS June 11, 1968 0. MENARD 3,387,670

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LOUIS D MENARD INVE/VI'OR A/MM W ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,3873% Patented June 11, 1968 3,387,670 APPARATUS FUR DRILLING AND CGNSTRUCTION Louis D. Menard, 35 Rue de IArbalete, Paris, France Filed Nov. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 508,961 Claims priority, application France, Nov. 12, 1964,

17 Claims. (Cl. 173-49 ABCT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an apparatus for driving in, extracting and rotating a workpiece beneath a surface which comprises in cooperation: a supporting member; means to mount a workpiece on said supporting member; a mobile unit comprising a motor, and adjustable means for oscillating said mobile unit including a plurality of secondary shafts carrying eccentric wheels driven in rotation by said motor, movable means to mount said mobile unit on said supporting member; abutment means for contacting said mobile unit as said unit oscillates; a main shaft driven from said motor; and means connecting said main shaft to the workpiece for rotating the workpiece.

It is known that the movements to which drilling and construction apparatus is subjected, may, according to prevailing circumstances, be movements directed to follow the axis of the workpiece, when the workpiece is driven in and removed. Furthermore, rotating movements about the axis of the workpiece may also be accomplished.

According to prior art techniques, for example, as disclosed in French Patent No. 1,115,005 and French Patent No. 1,286,654, a generator having in combination therewith, unbalanced, detachable elements is utilized to produce the appropriate strokes to either drive the workpiece in, remove it from the work area or turn it about its axis. Such apparatus, however, suffers from several inherent disadvantages. In the first instance, the turning is irregular and is liable to damage the workpiece. "In addition, such apparatus cannot be operated remotely from the work area, which is of considerable importance in underwater drilling.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for underground drilling and construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for underground drilling and construction that operates a workpiece either in up and down strokes or in a rotatable direction, or a combination of such movements.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for underground drilling and construction that operates a workpiece either in up and down strokes, or in a rotatable direction, or a combination of such movements, whereby the direction of movement of said workpiece may be effected by simple adjustments of said apparatus.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for underground drilling and construction that operates a workpiece either in up and down strokes, or in a rotatable direction, or a combination of such movements, whereby the direction of movement of said workpiece may be effected by simple adjustments of said apparatus at a point removed from the work area.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for under-water drilling and construction that operates a workpiece either in up and down strokes, or in a rotatable direction, or a combination of such movements, whereby the direction of movement of said workpiece may be eifected by simple adjustments of said apparatus at a point removed from the work surface.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for driving in, extracting and rotating a workpiece beneath a surface, which comprises in cooperation: a supporting member; means to mount a workpiece on the supporting member; a mobile unit comprising a motor and adjustable means for oscillating said mobile unit in relation to said supporting member; means to mount said mobile unit on said supporting member; and abutment means for contacting said mobile unit as said unit oscillates.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the details of the invention are further disclosed.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGS. 1 to 8 are diagrammatic drawings illustrating the operation of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a front view of an apparatus according to this invention, partly in section;

FIG. 10 shows another view of the apparatus of FIG. 9 including a front sectional view of the motor through a plane cutting the main shaft thereof;

FIG. 11 shows a side View in section, of an embodiment of the invention characterized by a system capable of being controlled from a distance;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side view, part in section, of an enclosure for the apparatus of FIG. 12, when the apparatus is used under water;

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration showing an assembly of eccentric wheels for controlling the apparatus by reversing the direction of movement of the motor.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, the apparatus comprises a supporting element or bracket 1, a cylinder 6, a Workpiece (e.g., a drill bit) 2, a motor '4, mobile unit 3 comprising platform 3a. and piston head 3 b, and springs 5a, 5a, 5b and 5b.

The elements 5a, 5b, 5a and 5b are secured at one end to the supporting bracket 1 and abut with their opposite ends against an appropriate part of platform 3a of the mobile unit 3. Mobile unit 3 is oscillated up and down by means of motor 4. The method of oscillation will be described hereinafter. The oscillatory movement of mobile unit 3 is controlled by elements 5a, 5b, 5a and 5b and by abutment elements interposed in the path of mobile unit 3. The movement of mobile unit 3 as controlled by elements 5a, 5b, 5a and 5b, and in the absence of any obstacles will be indicated hereinafter as the theoretical drive of the mobile unit. The theoretical drive consists of a half-drive upwardly and a half-drive downwardly. The up and down movement of the mobile unit 3 may be arrested by abutment elements interposed in the path of the mobile unit. These abutment elements comprise, for example, the opposite surfaces 6a and 6b of cylinder 6.

Workpiece 2 is secured to cylinder '6. Cylinder 6 is secured to support bracket /1, but it is movable in relation to same. Thus, for example, cylinder 6 may be moved in an up and down relationship with respect to support bracket 1, by providing threads around cylinder 6 and corresponding threads within a hole bored in the lower partition of support bracket 1, thereby enabling cylinder 6 to be screwed in and out of support bracket 1 and adjusted at any predetermined position.

The mobile unit 3, including element 3b is at a rest position when the forces exerted by elements 5a and 5b intended to cooperate with element 3b, which acts as a piston. When it is desired to move the work piece in a downward direction, i.e., drive the workpiece into the ground the distance between abutment surfaces 6a and 6b is of sufficient length so that when element 3b is at its rest position the distance between element 312 and abutment surface 6b is less than the theoretical half-drive of mobile unit 3 and also the distance between element 317 and abutment surface 6a is greater than the theoretical half-drive of mobile unit 3. When it is desired to move the workpiece in an upward direction the distance between abutment surfaces 6a and 6b is of sufficient length so that when element 312 is at its rest position, the distance between element 31) and abutment surface 6a is less than the theoretical half-drive of mobile unit 3 and the distance between element 3b and abutment surface 615 is greater than the theoretical half-drive of mobile unit 3.

The apparatus may be used to either move the workpiece 2 in a downward direction or to remove the workpiece from the work area. The choice of movement of the workpiece may be regulated simply by shifting the cylinder 6 in relation to the support bracket 1 to bring one of the abutment surfaces 6a or 611 to a sufiicient proximity to element 312, when element 3b is in a rest position, and the other abutment surface to a sufiicient distance from element 3b.

When the element 3b, in rest position, is close to the lower surface 6b of the cylinder 6, the device is adjusted to drive the drilling element 2 down; when piston 31) is close to the upper surface 6a, the device is adjusted to pull the drilling element up.

FIGS. 1 to 4 demonstrate the function of the apparatus adjusted for driving down workpiece 2.. The element b, in rest position, is close to the front of the abutment surface 6b (FIG. 1). When the motor 4 is in operation, the mobile unit 3 is alternately moved upwardly and downwardly. When the unit 3 is drawn upwardly, it attains a maximal high position (FIG. 2), corresponding with a certain compression of the upper springs 5a and 5b, Without element 3b coming in contact with the upper abutment surface 6a. The unit is thereafter drawn toward the bottom by the double effect of motor 4 and by the relaxation of the upper springs 5a and 5b, and the element 3b will strike the lower abutment surface 615, which is interposed in the path of its theoretical half-drive. Cylinder 6, support bracket 1 and the workpiece 2, which are secured together, undergo, due to this impact, a shifting toward the bottom, which is illustrated in FIG. 3. It can be seen that the support bracket 1 holds a position lower to that which it occupied previously (FIG. 2). The mobile unit 3 is then drawn again upwardly by motor 4 and returned by its rest position (FIG. 4). The procedure is then repeated.

With each complete cycle of the mobile unit 3, the workpiece receives an impulse directed downwardly and is finally driven into the ground at a speed which depends on, among other conditions, the compactness and nature of the ground upon which it acts and on the frequency of the oscillations of the mobile unit.

FIGS. 5 to 8 relate to the function of the apparatus adjusted for removal of the workpiece.

FIG. 5 illustrates how the cylinder 6, which contains the abutment elements 6a and 6b, is shifted downwardly to bring the upper abutment surface 6a into proximity with element 3b, when element 3b is in rest position.

FIG. 6 shows the mobile unit 3, drawn downwardly by motor 4, at its maximal low position. In FIG. 6 element 3!) is unable to hit the abutment surface 6b due to the adjustment of cylinder 6, the distance between 6a and 6b and the compressability of springs 5a and 5/).

FIG. 7 shows the movement of mobile unit 3 towards the top of support bracket 1. Element 3b hits the upper surface 6a under the double effect of .drive motor 4 and the release of tension in springs 5a and 511'.

FIG. 8 shows the mobile unit 3 back at its rest position. The procedure is then repeated.

In FIGS. 3 and 7 the element 3b of the mobile unit 3 is represented as being in contact with the surfaces of abutment 6b (FIG. 3) or 6a (FIG. 7), but it should be understood that in practice such a contact is only momentary during each cycle.

Referring to FIG. 9, the support bracket is indicated generally as 10, and comprises a flange 100, on which are mounted a plurality of columns. Only one column, 1% is shown. These columns are secured by bolts 11, or any other suitable means. On column 10b a plurality of Bclleville washers 5t and 50 are attached, which form two sets (indicated by the broken lines) separated by an element 396 of the mobile unit indicated generally as 30. The element 300 is cylindrical and slidable on column 1011. Element 3G0 is connected with a platform 30a of mobile unit 36', upon which a motor 4-0 is disposed. The washers act as elastic spring members.

Cylinder 60 contains the abutment surface. Cylinder 6%) can move within flange 10a by means of threads (not shown) in a bore in flange 10a. An upper ring 61 and a lower ring 62, are intended to serve as abutment surfaces for element 3% of mobile unit 39. Element 30b corresponds to element 3b in FIGS. 1 to 8 and is equipped with an upper shoulder 31 and a lower annular projection 32.

Element 361), which can slide into cylinder 60, is joined to another element 36d of mobile unit 30. Element 36a is itself secured to platform 39a.

The drilling device, which is not illustrated in FIG. 9, is normally attached to the lower end of cylinder 60 by means of any suitable coupling, comprising for example a ring 63 and a clamp 64. The drilling device is rotated by the main shaft of motor 40.

The apparatus, shown in FIG. 9, is operated in the same manner as in FIGS. 1 to 8.

To etfect the driving down action of the drilling device the element 30b, in rest position, is practically in contact with the lower abutment 62 by means of annular projection 32. The distance separating the upper abutment 61 from the upper shoulder 31 of the element 301) is great enough so that upper shoulder 31 rising under the eifect of the drive of motor 40 could not strike with impact the abutment 61. On the other hand, at each downward stroke it will hit the abutment 62.

The regulation of the apparatus of FIG. 9 to effect the extraction of the workpiece can be accomplished manually by unscrewing cylinder 60, to make it descend in relationship to the platform 10a of the support means 10. This effects a downward shift by all of the units which are secured to cylinder 60. This descent is arrested when the upper abutment element 61 is sufiiciently close or in gintaclt with shoulder 31 of piston 3011 as illustrated in FIG. 10 shows another view of the apparatus of FIG. 9, illustrating the details of the motor 40 and the manner in which the oscillatory movement of unit 30 is effected.

Referring to FIG. 10, the motor 40 comprises a main shaft 40a and a plurality of secondary shafts 40b, 4%, 40b" and 4011". The main shaft drives, by means of suitable intermediary gears, all of the secondary shafts.

The left hand portion of FIG. 10 shows the axis of main shaft 40a in vertical position and the axis of a secondary shaft 4912. As seen therein, secondary shaft 40b is disposed perpendicular to main shaft 40a. The main shaft 40a drives shaft 4% through a gear system, generally denoted as 46c and which may comprise, for example, two conical sprocket wheels, one engaged with the other and secured on the shafts 40a and 4911, respectively.

The secondary shaft 4% is supported in a gear case 47, which is closed by means of a removable plate 48. Two unbalancing or eccentric wheels 41 and 42. may be leveled on the secondary shaft hlb. These eccentric wheels may be placed on the same side (i.e., parallel) as shown in FIG. 10, or they may be diametrically opposed to each other in relation to the axis of shaft 401). That is, they may be placed 180 from each other and thereby provide a balanced system.

When the eccentric wheels are placed in an unbalanced position, the centrifugal forces developed by each eccentric wheel, as the secondary shaft rotates, are cumulative, thereby causing the entire mobile unit to oscillate up and down.

When the eccentric wheels are in a balanced position the mobile unit does not oscillate.

The means of leveling the eccentric wheels may comprise, as in the case illustrated in FIG. 10, shanks 43 disposed slidably in the two eccentric wheels and held longitudinally by means of a small ring 44 secured by screws 45 on a sleeve 46 firmly connected with shaft 40b.

The assembly of the eccentric Wheels in another position is easily accomplished. This can be effected by removing gear case 47, disassembling the blockage systems of the shanks 43 and by shifting these shanks towards the outside at a length sufficient to disconnect the eccentric wheel 42 from wheel 41.

Thus, the wheel 42 being rendered free, may be placed in a position opposite to its original position and reconnected in this new position, diametrically opposite wheel 41 by means of the shanks 43 and ring 44 on the opposite side of shaft 40b.

As secondary shaft 40b rotates and the eccentric wheels are in unbalanced position, the centrifugal forces developed impart on motor 40 and on unit 30, which is connected thereto, a shifting action directed alternately upwardly and downwardly, thereby effecting a sliding motion of the element b in the cylinder 60. Each stroke of element 30 thus moves against abutment means 61 or 62, according to the adjustment of cylinder 60.

When the said wheels 41 and 42 are mounted in a balanced position, the centrifugal forces which they produce, are voided and the motor does not oscillate up and down. Under these conditions, it is possible to secure the drilling device by any suitable means to the lower end of shaft 40a, which is accessible from the interior of cylinder and of element 30b which is hollow. Thus, the workpiece may be rotated by the main shaft 40a of the motor 40, and at the same time undergo an oscillatory movement.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 10, consequently, permits by simple adjustment, a means to drive the drilling device up and down and/ or to rotate it.

The right hand side of FIG. 10 shows in its upper part the axis of another secondary shaft 405' of the motor 40, shaft 40b being disposed opposite shaft 40b.

A third secondary shaft 40b", perpendicular to the common axis of shafts 40b and 40b, is also shown in FIG. 10.

A fourth, secondary shaft 4012" (not shown in FIG. 10), is aligned with shaft 40b" and is symmetrical to shaft 401)" in relation to the main shaft 40a, by which it is likewise driven.

All the elements described in relation to shaft 4017 are applicable also to shafts 40b, 40b" and 4015" and are in part represented in the different views of FIG. 10 by each relating, respectively, to shafts 40b and 40b.

The four secondary shafts are orientated at 90 one from the other and each of them is provided With two unbalanced wheels which form accordingly a balanced systern for the motor. That is, all of the superfluous forces which tend to effect undesired shifting of the motor, for

example, a rotation of the whole unit of same about the axis of the main shaft are obviated by providing the four secondary shafts at 90 from each other.

It is to be understood that such a system with four shafts is one means among others which may prevent the motor from shifting laterally and that any other means aimed at the same result is also within the scope of the invention.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the

main shaft 40a of the motor 40 may be driven in rotation from a source which may be at a distance from the motor 40. This may be accomplished, for example, by a hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic drive system for activating the shaft 40a being connected to the motor 40 by means of a head member 402 (FIG. 9) emerging through the opening 400. of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 11 and 12 relate to a particularly advantageous variation of the apparatus of the invention, which is characterized by an adjustment system capable of being controlled at a distance from the work area.

This variation of the apparatus, which is shown in perspective in FIG. 12, in a vertical drilling position, comprises a supporting member, on which is attached a drilldevice and in which, a mobile unit is equipped with a drive motor. The mobile unit and motor are capable of oscillating in an up and down movement.

The supporting element comprises a horizontal platform 100a, traversed through its center by a vertical cylinder 71. The horizontal platform 100a has at its four ends vertical columns of the same type, as column 10b, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9. Each column has two sets of Belleville rings 500 and 500 threaded on the column.

The mobile unit is mounted on the supporting means, and comprises a horizontal platform 300a mounted in sliding arrangement on the shafts of the supporting columns between the two sets of Belleville rings. In its center, platform 300a is traversed by a vertical cylinder 72, which is fixed thereto. Cylinder 72 has thereon a motor, to which it is attached. The motor is of the type previously described in reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 12 shows three of four gear-cases, indicated as 470, 470' and 470" corresponding to four secondary shafts, and a hydraulic fluid supply member 400e for the motor.

Numeral in FIG. 12 refers to an element mounted in sliding arrangement in the cylinders 71 and 72, to which the drilling device is attached by appropriate means.

Member 70 and the cylinders 71 and 72 engaged in cooperation with member 70, are essential elements of this embodiment, as they form the means to regulate the apparatus. These elements and their cooperational function are described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 11, which is a sectional view along the vertical axis of the apparatus in FIG. 12. For clarification, only those parts of the apparatus are illustrated in FIG. 11 which relate to the control elements.

Referring to FIG. 11, the control elements comprise a cylindrical member 70, composed of lower part 700 for the attachment of a drilling device, a center part representing a piston 70b which can slide into the cylinder 71, and an upper part forming a piston 70c mounted in sliding arrangement in the cylinder 72. The center and upper parts of the said member 70 are secured, one to the other, by adequate means, which, for example, may be a pin 75.

Cylinder 71 is coupled to the supporting means, and cylinder 72 to the mobile unit. Thus, cylinder 72 is secured in the bore of the platform 300a of the mobile unit.

Device 70 slides in the cylinders 71 and 72. A shifting of the piston 70b from one end to the other in the cylinder 71 corresponds with the shifting of the piston 70c from one end to the other in the cylinder 72.

The manner by which the workpiece moves up or down is essentially the same as that described in FIGS. 1 to 8.

Thus, the adjustment of element 70, serves to bring the piston 70c in proximity, either with the lower surface 72a of cylinder 72, or with the upper surface 74a of a member 74. Member 74 forms the head of cylinder 72.

This adjustment is accomplished by effecting the shifting of the piston70b in the cylinder 71 to bring this piston in high or low position in the cylinder. Such a shifting of the piston 70b may be controlled by the pressure of a fluid introduced in the cylinder 71 through one or the other of the two openings for admission, denoted as A 7 and B, and acting upon one or the other of the horizontal surfaces 70b and 70b of the piston 70b.

The example illustrated in FIG. 11 relates to an entrance of fluid (not shown) through the opening A, in a way that the piston 70b is permanently held in a low position. At such a position the cylinder 72, when at rest, is in contact by means of its surface 72a with the lower surface 70c" of the piston 700' which forms the upper part of the device 7 0.

As the mobile unit 300 is drawn downwardly by its motor 4430, the cylinder 72, which is part of the mobile unit, descends in sliding motion along the length of device 70 which does not move. This descent is arrested when the mobile unit starts to be drawn upwardly by its motor, which occurs before the mobile cylinder 72 has reached the stationary cylinder 71, and before the piston 70c has reached the surface 74a, for reasons explained previously.

On the other hand, as the mobile unit re-ascends, it is arrested by the lower surface 700" of the piston 700, which drives the lower surface 72a to the bottom of cylinder 72. The stroke, thus effected, subjects the piston 70c to an upward impulse, which likewise effects the drilling device attached to member 7! These phenomena repeated at each oscillation of the mobile unit result in a progressive pulling up of the drilling device.

By similar considerations, it is readily seen that the control of the head 70]) in high position in the cylinder 71, upon the introduction of fluid in the cylinder 71 through the opening B, corresponds on the other hand with the operation of the apparatus whereby the drilling device is progressively driven downward when the mobile unit os cillates up and down.

The upper and lower surfaces 700' and 700" of the piston 70c correspond to abutment 62 and abutment 61, respectively, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9. The surfaces 72a and 74a correspond to the shoulder 31 and the element 32 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

The drilling device of the invention is controlled starting from a control unit which includes means to hoist the apparatus and means to control the function of the driving elements of the apparatus. When the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 12, is provided with regulating means controllable from a distance, the control unit also includes control elements acting on these regulating means.

The elements for hoisting the apparatus comprise, for example, a hoisting gear or a crane for lifting, a cable to which is attached a suspension member supporting the apparatus of the invention. FIG. 12 shows one such means for hoisting the apparatus. The means includes a base 90 having in its center a cylinder 92, and three arms 91 in the form of an L projecting from cylinder 92. The arms 91 are attached at their vertical sections to the ends of three chains 98. The other ends of chains 98 are held together by a common ring 99, which at the time of operation of the apparatus is attached to the cable of a hoisting crane or any other hoisting apparatus. This type of suspension is simple and is particularly convenient for under-water drilling. However, the invention includes, according to individual needs, appropriate hoisting means known in the art of drilling. This includes, for example, the use of a guide rail.

The means to control the function of the driving elements of the apparatus and its control means include, for example, one or several pumps capable of conveying the fluids under pressure to the apparatus by means of suitable pipes. This may comprise, for example, tubes 81 and 82 communicating with the openings B and A, respectively, of the cylinder 71 (FIGS. 12); and tubes 83 and 84 establishing a circuit of circulation for the hydraulic control fluid for the functioning of the motor of the apparatus. Tube 85 is an escape tube for the protection of the motor.

For under-water drilling, the invention includes the disposition of the drilling apparatus in the interior of a water-proof enclosure, thereby isolating the apparatus from the surrounding water when it is immersed.

FIG. 13 illustrates such an enclosure suitable for the apparatus of FIG. 12. This enclosure comprises an encasement 93 mounted in Water-tight fashion on the base 90. The encasement 93 is provided with adequate openings 93a, 93b and 930 for the passage of the control tubes of the apparatus. The lower element 71 and the upper element fililtte are represented in FIG. 13 to indicate the position of the drilling apparatus in the enclosure.

The number, the shape and the sites of the openings are obviously a matter of choice. It is possible to limit the number, for example, by only having one upper opening 93c, and by having all of the control pipes of the apparatus pass through this opening grouped in a bundle. This is the reason that the openings 93c is shown in a relatively large section in FIG. 13.

The encasement 93 may be formed by a distendable material, such as indie-rubber and can be permanently inflated, for example, by blowing air into the encasement by means of an appropriate pipe (not illustrated).

This isolation of the apparatus by means of a watertight enclosure, has a particular important advantage, namely, it prevents the oscillation energy of the mobile unit from being transmitted to the water thereby improving the efficiency of the apparatus. For the same reason, the invention includes the disposition of an elastic member on one side and/or the other side of the cylinder 92.. These elastic emplacements, indicated at 94 and 94' in FIG. 13, engage for example, a spring such as the Belleville ring are placed between cylinder 92 and members 71 and 80.

The apparatus of the present invention may be modified with regard to the various features without deviating from the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to utilize return means of other than the Belleville rings. In addition, an element performing multiple functions may be replaced by multiple elements, and multiple separate elements may be replaced by one single element. The abutment means, for example, may be supported by different members; and the control of the displacement of an abutment means may be realized independent from that of the shifting of another abutment.

In addition, it comes within the scope of the invention to oscillate the mobile unit up and down by a pivoting movement instead of a transferring movement, the es sential factor being that this unit could strike the suppoiting member, either directly or indirectly, by effecting a favorable impulse at the driving-in or the extraction of the drilling device. For these reasons, the transferring movement of the mobile unit, although preferably realized by following a parallel axis to the longitudinal axis of the drilling device, may, nevertheless, also be realized following another axis.

The control of the drive means and/or the control of the regulation means may be of an electric or an electromagnetic type, as these types of control also permit control from a distance.

It is also contemplated that when one part of the apparatus is mobile with relation to a stationary part, the shifting relative to these parts may also be achieved by rendering mobile or displaceable either part in relation to the other part.

It is also to be understood that the drilling device, illustrated in FIG. 12, may be used with any other drilling device and permits any position of the drill.

The invention has heretofore described a method of changing from an oscillating up and down stroke whereby the drill is either driven in or extracted and/or rotated and a position where there is no oscillating up and down movement and the drill may only rotate. This was explained by the manual change of position of the unbalancing wheels. It should be understood that the change of the unbalancing wheels may also be controlled from a distance. This may be accomplished, for example, by reversing the direction of the motor.

To accomplish this effect, each pair of unbalancing wheels can comprise an unbalancing wheel in fixed position, in regard to the shaft on which it is mounted, and a mobile unbalancing wheel. By such a construction the centrifugal force which the mobile unbalancing wheel develops is either added to or subtracted from the centrifugal force created by the stationary unbalancing wheel. The movement of the mobile unbalancing wheel from one position to another being controlled by a reversal of direction of the drive of the motor.

FIG. 14 demonstrates the principle of this assembly of unbalancing wheels. There is schematically shown the stationary unbalancing wheel 120 and the mobile unbalancing wheel 110. The mobile unbalancing wheel 110 is shown between its two positions of arrest 110' and 110". The first position of arrest being defined by the stationary unbalancing wheel 120 and wherein it is adjacent to this wheel, and the second being defined by a stationary abutment means 140 and wherein it is diametrically opposed to the stationary unbalancing wheel 12f) in relation to the rotation axis 130 of these wheels. By reversing the direction of the motor, this reverses the direction of movement of the secondary shafts, which in turn causes the mobile unbalancing wheel to shift from one position of arrest to another position of arrest. By providing suitable means at a distance removed from the work area to reverse the motor, the oscillatory movement of the apparatus may also be controlled from a distance. This may be accomplished, for example, by using a hydraulically operated motor.

It should be understood that the unbalancing wheels may in themselves be of any type and that the invention is not restricted to one particular type of unbalancing Wheel nor to one particular type of movable carrier for such wheels.

The centrifugal force resulting from a pair of eccentric Wheels obviously depends on their masses and on their relative positions. The invention foresees selecting their masses and/ or their relative positions, in such a way that for a direction of rotation of the shaft, the resultant centrifugal force may be nil or may be maximum.

The drive for rotating the drilling device 80 by means of the motor of the apparatus may be achieved by starting from a shaft 40a (FIG. 11) which may be the lower end of the shaft 40a or an independent shaft driven in any suitable manner by the motor.

The movement of the shaft 40a may be transmitted to the drilling device by a suitable mechanical connection permanently established, but arranged in a fashion, that the transmission of the rotation movement may be effective only for one direction of rotation of the shaft 40a. It is possible to utilize any kind of coupling gear already known to obtain this effect. This may be accomplished, for example, by a transmission having one ratchet-wheel engaged only in one direction of rotation.

The system of transmission may comprise a shaft starting in the vicinity of the shaft 40a and successively traversing the member 74, the interior space of the cylinder 72 and the piston 70, and then joining a mounting means to which the drilling device is fixedly attached.

In this example the abutment member, which forms the convex surface 740 (the surface which is then bored at the site of the convex region) may be replaced by an annular abutment element or by a plurality of abutment elements distributed over the periphery of the surface.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the invention is extremely advantageous for under-water drilling, since the device may be controlled at a distance remote from the work area, as for example, a ship or platform. This represents a considerable reduction in cost as prior known techniques have required the presence of a workman on the bottom of the water.

While certain specific examples and preferred modes of practice of the invention have been set forth it will be understood that this is solely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for driving in, extracting and rotating a workpiece beneath a surface, which comprises in cooperation: a supporting member; means to mount a workpiece on said supporting member; a mobile unit comprising a motor and adjustable means for oscillating said mobile unit in relation to said supporting member, said adjustable means for oscillating including a plurality of secondary shafts driven in rotation by said motor, each secondary shaft carrying a pair of eccentric wheels, one of the two eccentric wheels of a pair being shiftable about its corresponding secondary shaft, means to regulate the movement of the shiftable eccentric wheel by a change in the direction of rotation of its corresponding secondary shaft; movable means to mount said mobile unit on said supporting member including elastic means which are alternatively compressed and decompressed as said mobile unit oscillates and guide means which define an axis of oscillation for said mobile unit; and abutment means for contacting said mobile unit as said unit oscillates.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each of said secondary shafts is connected to a main shaft driven from said motor so that the direction of rotation of each of said secondary shafts is controlled by the direction of rotation of said main shaft.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said motor is hydraulically operated.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said adjustable means for oscillating said mobile unit includes two members serving to arrest said movably stationed eccentric wheel.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the two eccentric wheels are stationed at different axial positions with respect to their common shaft.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the two eccentric wheels are from one another, whereby the centrifugal forces produced by said wheels counter-act each other and said mobile unit remains stationary.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the two eccentric wheels are stationed with respect to their common shaft of rotation in such a manner that the centrifugal forces produced by said wheel are cumulative and said mobile unit oscillates.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said abutment means for contacting said mobile unit are comprised of an abutment means on said mobile unit including a housing having two abutments and an abutment means on said supporting member including a part cooperating with said housing having abutments on each face.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said abutment means on said supporting member including a part cooperating with said housing is adjustable with reference to said housing whereby only one of the two abutments on said housing contacts only one of the two abutments on said part in such a manner that the oscillations of said mobile unit effect impacts on the two abutments in contact without effecting impacts on the two abutments not in contact.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the adjustment of said abutment means is such that the oscillatory movement of said mobile unit effects a progressive downward movement of said workpiece.

regulate the adjustment of said abutment means at a point removed from a work area includes a hydraulic system.

14. Apparatus for driving in, extracting and rotating a workpiece beneath a surface, which comprises in cooperation: a supporting member; means to mount a workpiece on the supporting member; a mobile unit comprising a motor and adjustable means for oscillating said mobile unit in relation to said supporting member, said adjustable means for oscillating said mobile unit including a plurality of secondary shafts driven in rotation by said motor, each secondary shaft carrying a pair of eccentric wheels, at least one of the two eccentric wheels of a pair being shiftable so that the centrifugal forces developed as the secondary shafts rotate may be re lated by shifting at least one of said eccentric wheels; means to mount said mobile unit on said supporting member; abutment means for contacting said mobile unit as said unit cscillates; and a main shaft driven from said motor, and means connecting said main shaft to the workpiece for rotating the workpiece in a direction independent of the direction of rotation of said main shaft.

15. Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the motor, the

means for oscillating and the abutment means are all connected to a hydraulic system so that said apparatus may be operated at a distance remote from a work area.

16. Apparatus as in claim 15, including a water-tight enclosure, said enclosure including openings for the passage of conduits carrying a hydraulic fluid.

17. Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said enclosure comprises a distendable wall and means for the admission of a fluid to distend said wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,102,652 7/1914 Gibb et a1 173-91 1,667,546 4/1928 Goldschmidt 74-61 1,958,041 5/1934 Hansen 175-6 3,023,820 3/1962 Desvaux et a1 173-49 X 3,097,537 7/ 1962 Peterson 74-61 3,215,209 11/1965 Desvaux et a1 173-49 3,291,224 12/ 1960 Stutz 173-49 NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner. 

